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 Great Lakes Shipwreck Preservation Society

Dedicated to Preserving our Shipwrecks and Maritime History
"From Prevention to Preservation"

HomezzMadeira / Hesper Monitoring Project 2017

Madeira and Hesper Monitoring Project 2017

July 22 - 23, 2017

 

    

          

              

2017 Madeira / Hesper Monitoring Project Photos


Please join us for an adventure Diving the shipwrecks along the North Shore to help Monitor them for deterioration

During this project we are going to monitor the conditions of each shipwreck through visual observation drawings and also using both still and video photography.  


 

The Madeira and Hesper have been underwater for a very long time.  Mother nature has done a great job preserving them but she has beaten them up along the way.  As divers we dive these shipwrecks and will eventually cause wear from diving them year after year.

This is were volunteers from the GLSPS step in to help.  With the joint effort of the Minnesota Historical Society (MHS) and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the GLSPS tries to help stabilize and preserve these shipwrecks from further deterioration.  We work closely with the state organizations and near by Cities near the shipwrecks, to gain access through special permitting to perform the underwater work we perform to preserve the shipwrecks and ultimately maritime history.  

Before we can do any of this, we need to document and monitor each shipwrecks deterioration characteristics.  If the shipwreck looks like it's in danger of collapsing or is becoming a safety concern for divers, we formulate a preservation and stabilization plan and present it to the GLSPS Board of Directors.  If the Board and MHS approve the plan, we go to work and implement the plan.  We will also need to obtain permits from the MHS (and sometimes the DNR) to perform construction work on the shipwreck.  If we complete the process like planned, it will help to preserve the shipwreck for many years.  The shipwreck will be intact for future divers to be able to view, just like we saw when we first dived the shipwreck.

 
Here is the link to the Event Page - Madeira and Hesper Monitoring Project 2017

 

Here is your chance to dive the Madeira and Hesper aboard the R/V Preservation and have a great time learning the process of our research as well!


Corey Daniel
Project Leader
heygadjetman@yahoo.com
218-343-4970




Closing Report:

   The Madeira wreck has very subtle changes year to year.  This year the project volunteers placed a stake into the lake bottom to measure movement of the pilot house.  Measurements were taken and now can be compared year to year.  No major changes in the wreck were noted but the ambition to document and map out more detailed information of the midsection has begun.  The intention is to get a better picture or layout of the wreck along the cliff and rock slide in relation to the rest of the well known wreck pieces.
   This year no time was spent on the Hesper wreck.  The mooring buoy had broken loose in an earlier windy day and was wedged in the rocks of the break wall at the divers access.   The buoy was recovered and a new line made.  It was installed on Sunday, making changes in its securement to insure it's longevity.  By the time that was done the wind had picked up and the second crew were unable to get a dive in.  Typically the wreck has shown little change year to year as it is more protected now where it lies.
   I want to thank Tim Pranke for his vast knowledge of ships and wreck history, and boat operating skills.  Tom Peterson for his diving tasks assistance and photography.  Newcomer Kevin Winters for his time, input and enthusiasm, hope to see him on more projects.  I would say another good dive weekend was had by all and I appreciate everyone's time and hard work.
Corey Daniel